Physics for Elementary Teachers PET Nicole Miner and Dustin Curtis – future teachers

State Standards 3 rd grade  Identify methods of producing electricity relative to Arkansas: hydroelectric coal oil natural gas nuclear solar wind  Classify electrical conductors and electrical insulators  Construct simple circuits from circuit diagrams

Conductors and insulators

Physics Concepts  1) Electricity travels through metal.  2) Gain experience forming and testing predictions, recording and sharing observations, and creating generalizations

Lesson Plan (part 1)  Put students in groups of two or three.  Pass out materials  Explore students knowledge on what they think electricity travels through.  Show students the various test materials and ask students to predict which of the materials will allow electricity to flow through it and which ones will not.

Lesson Plan (part 2)  Open bag of test materials : paper clip, penny, marble, pencil, aluminum, crayon, and wood.  Have students test each material and record their observations on the handout.

Lesson Plan (part 3)  As a class discuss what rules apply to electricity.  Define terms: Conductor vs. Insulator

What Does Electricity travel through Worksheet  Items Prediction Paper clip Penny Marble Pencil Aluminum Crayon Wood  Observation

Conclusion  We believe the lesson went well  We liked the fact that the students were involved in the lesson.  Students were excited and liked the option of being able to experiment with items at their desk.  I believe the students learned because they had a good grasp by the end of the lesson on what electricity travels through.